Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778), generally accepted as the father of Romanticism, believed that humans are born basically good and that original sin does not exist in the human heart (Hergenhahn & Henley, 2014, p. 198). This is Rousseau’s basic point behind the statement “Man is born free yet we see him everywhere in chains” (Rousseau, as cited in Hergenhahn & Henley, 2014, p. 198). People, as inherently good, do not require governing, whether by the state, the Church, or any other social institution. It is society and its attempts to control individuals that lead to harmful behavior. In this sense, Rousseau disagreed with Hobbes who also believed that in order to understand humans, one needs to recognize natural impulses. Whereas Hobbes
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Societies, Rousseau believed, were to be governed by the general will, which is the good of the community. The general will is distinct from the individual will, and even from a majority or unanimous consensus, which can be selfish. Society should be compelled to follow the general will, hold no elections, no private property, or personal wealth (Hergenhahn & Henley, 2014, p. 199). Furthermore, since people are inherently good, education should follow children’s natural impulses rather than attempt to structure them. The child is then free to follow his or her own interests and abilities and the educational process is responsive to the child. The author of Proverbs 22:6, however, seems to disagree, “Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it” (New King James Version). It is possible for children who are not given guidance and instruction to become self-centered and impulsive, just as a garden that is not tended becomes overrun with weeds. The ideas Rousseau proposed sound utopian, presupposing people are inherently good. If sin is a reality in people’s lives, however, Rousseau’s ideas sound narcissistic and totalitarian rather than
Societies, Rousseau believed, were to be governed by the general will, which is the good of the community. The general will is distinct from the individual will, and even from a majority or unanimous consensus, which can be selfish. Society should be compelled to follow the general will, hold no elections, no private property, or personal wealth (Hergenhahn & Henley, 2014, p. 199). Furthermore, since people are inherently good, education should follow children’s natural impulses rather than attempt to structure them. The child is then free to follow his or her own interests and abilities and the educational process is responsive to the child. The author of Proverbs 22:6, however, seems to disagree, “Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it” (New King James Version). It is possible for children who are not given guidance and instruction to become self-centered and impulsive, just as a garden that is not tended becomes overrun with weeds. The ideas Rousseau proposed sound utopian, presupposing people are inherently good. If sin is a reality in people’s lives, however, Rousseau’s ideas sound narcissistic and totalitarian rather than